COLUMBUS - Today, Senator Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman) called the passage of H.B. 2 an important starting point for the charter school reform movement, but stressed that there is still more to be done.

“After years of dedicated effort by Democrats in the legislature, it’s good to see charter school reforms passed today,” said Senator Schiavoni. “This marks the beginning of what I hope will be a path to complete accountability and transparency for Ohio’s charter schools. We still need to make significant adjustments to ensure that every child receives the best education possible.”

Senator Schiavoni applauded the positive aspects of H.B. 2, many of which were incorporated from S.B. 20, which Schiavoni introduced in February 2015. The next step will be to introduce a bill that adds to H.B 2 in the following ways:

Requires the Auditor of State to audit each charter school operator and sponsor on an annual basis regarding all documents pertaining to their use of public funds for operations or sponsorship of charter schools

Requires each public charter school to set up a public records commission, which will meet at least once per year to review all records

Clarifies that all nonpublic operators and sponsors of charter schools must comply with public records

“We need to make sure this bill is a major first step toward complete charter school reform, not the last time the issue comes up,” said Senator Schiavoni. “Let’s take this momentum and add to it. Ohio parents deserve to feel confident that the failures we’ve seen over the years will never happen again.”

COLUMBUS - Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman) and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus have launched a series of trips around the state to gather opinions from parents and educators on ways to improve education in Ohio.

Columbus—Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman) released the following statement after Governor Kasich rescinded an executive order that granted collective bargaining rights to home healthcare and childcare providers:

Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman) has worked over the last few months to pass legislation that would dedicate a portion of I-80 in Austintown in honor of two local Vietnam Veterans as the "Marine Sergeant James Prommersberger and Army Second Lieutenant Charles W. Brown Memorial Highway". This summer, these efforts will become a reality.

Columbus –State Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman), Senator Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard), State Representative Ron Gerberry (D-Austintown) and State Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) sent a letter to Governor Kasich this week urging him to postpone the transfer of residents from the Youngstown and Montgomery Development Centers. The four Mahoning Valley legislators have sponsored legislation to establish a State Facilities Closure Review Commission to determine if the facilities should remain open.